www.pahana.com.
au
ENLIGHTENING THE
WORLD
T he new Prime Minister is reported
to have expressed his desire and his
plans to spread the word of the Buddha
right round the world. While applauding
the pious P.M. for following in the
footsteps of the pious Buddhist Emperor
Dharmasoka of India, I would like to
play the devils advocate and raise a silly
but simple question – How about putting
your house in order to start with ?
Unkind and ungrateful though it sounds,
I do think my simple question calls for
some explanation if not answers.
Sri Lanka has, over the centuries, earned
a number of epithets for its Buddhist
heritage or tradition or whatever one
likes to call it. Dharmadvipa or the Island
of Dhamma or Religion, must be the
most outstanding. It is also called the
cradle of Therawada Buddhism. Why a
country like Thailand did not qualify for
that distinction is rather interesting, being
a land whose Buddhist monks apparently
are not earning a salary for their work,
and genuinely enlightened monks are
reported to have lived in the very recent
past. (Monks who were Arahants unlike
the crop of Arahants appearing in Sri
Lanka now and then). The only reason
one can think of is that Buddhism was
introduced to that country much later
than to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka easily beats Thailand on
another front. Our motherland has the
high distinction of possessing a number
of things that either belonged to or were
associated with the Buddha. Namely
the Tooth Relic (this in addition to
innumerable little relic displayed at
each Buddhist temple in every nook and
corner of the island). The Sacred Bo Tree
at Anuradhapura and the Foot Print on
the top of Samanalakanda. It is irrelevant
whether Madane Blavatskey remarked
that the sacred tooth of the Buddha
perhaps belonged to a previous birth of
the Buddha when he was born a tiger,
or the size of the foot print apparently
covered by a larger replica for protection.
Even the silly assertion by some infidels
that Buddha never visited the island.
Coming back to my original question,
I would like to add another allied
query to that what makes a country or
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0414 546 833
6 DECEMBER 2010 PAHANA - LIGHT & LIFE
a person Buddhist ? Out of these three
“requirements” or “standards” only the
second one seems to be ignored by all
concerned. The first and then third are
pasted allover. One wonders whether
this has gone so far as to be called an
attractive trade mark to earn a living or
to put it more bluntly, to fool the masses.
Let us turn our attention to the reality
on the ground in Sri Lanka. What world
ranking has Sri Lanka earned on its crime
rate ? Looking inwards, has any one
looked at the statistic on murders, theft,
rape, embezzlements and compared
these according to the religion of the
perpetrators ? Then are all four religions
represented by the Sri Lankan population,
and my guess is that Buddhists would
score high marks on all areas, beating
adherents of all other religions.
A friend of mine living in Australia told
me about his experience back home on a
visit there. He comes from a village close
to a provincial city. The road leading to
this village was in urgent need of repair
and he questioned a man who handled
government contracts for road repairs,
and the like. The contractor was ready
with an answer or an excuse.
“No one is prepared to do a contract for
the Provincial Council. Who wants to do
a contract by paying 20% commission to
the Minister ?”
The Minister in question was the
Provincial Minister in charge of the
subject.
This single instance goes to prove
something even the aid-givers from
various international agencies have been
saying over the years, i.e. aid given
to developing councils do not flow to
the required level, and good part of it
evaporates in the process. Who are these
evaporators ? It is common knowledge in
Sri Lanka, good many of the politicians
make a profit-making business. Again
the question of religion comes in. How
many of these embezzlers pose as pious
Buddhists either kneeling at the feet of
Mahasangha, or performing religious
functions in front of the innocent masses.
Someone asked me whether I have been
to Kavatayamuna, and my reply was that
I had a short glimpse at these denizens
from the underworld there, one night
on our way back from a pilgrimage. My
recollection was rather vague. He wanted
to know whether there was special
accommodation there for politicians who
fatten themselves with money from the
public or what is meant for public works.
I am still at a loss as to the exact situation.
Any way, I hope some kind soul
No one can prevent a person consuming
would take action to provide sufficient
or serving liquor to his guests. However,
accommodation for this special category
in a Buddhist country led by a pious
of sinners.
PM at least his colleagues ought to
There were some government
set an example as good Buddhists by
departments where bribery was very
avoiding liquor at functions organized
cleverly regularized. I remember going
or patronized by them. How far are
to Customs Department to clear some
such occasions liquor-free ? Going by
goods I had shipped from London. One
reports of such gatherings, one has to
officer initialed some form and asked me
keep guessing as to the brand of liquor
to give it to the next man, with Rs.25/-
available, and whether foreign or local,
. Instructions were clear. It was money
rather than their availability.
paid to that man for doing his routine job.
Truthfulness is a rare commodity in the
I had no hesitation in parting with them.
field of politics even in democracies. Don’t
I would have even paid Rs. 100/= to get
we have a right to expect truthfulness
out of that place with my goods rather
from politicians who sponsor the cause
than wasting another half a day at least if
I refused to pay. of Buddhism both within and without the
house ? How far is truth respected and
This was about thirty years ago, and
used in dealings and promises made by
hopefully, things would have improved
politicians who provide these shows as
by now. However, the talk in the town is
Buddhist leaders in front of unsuspecting
that the word “bribe” or even “bribery”
voters ?
has now lost its glamour. It is now
If the situation at home is not so bad,
apparently been replaced by a more
there is a lot more of home-work to be
dignified term “commission”. If this is a
done by Sri Lankan politicians before
difference it is the amount used. In other
they set out to spread the word of the
words, it costs much more that the few
Buddha overseas.
notes surreptitiously handed over these
days.
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Free Sri Lankan Community Magazine
December 2010 │Issue # 92
amil
gfd(jPgk;)

i h our readers
We wish d a Merry
M Ch i t
Christmas andd a Happy
H N Year
New Y
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2 DECEMBER 2010 PAHANA - LIGHT & LIFE

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Let Us Move
Forward
ixialrKh Editors The Friendship Dinner held
r;ak iqukd tÈßisxy Rathna Sumana Edirisinghe in North Dandenong on
;=Idr rkau,a Èidkdhl Thushara Ranmal Nov. 13th was a modest first
Dissanayake
step in a long process. Taken
in good faith, it signaled
ixialdrl uKav,h Editorial Board
an encouraging beginning
ã î l=remamq D B Kuruppu
by Sri Lankan Victorians
tia mshfiak S. Piyasena
belonging to various section
moau l=ud¾ tÈßùr Padma Kumar Ediriweera
s of the Community.
fyauud,d fyar;a Hemamala Herath
ñysß Èidkdhl Mihirie Dissanayake
The two organisers, Sri
Lankan Consul in Victoria,
msgq ieliqu$ Page Layout and Bandu Dissayakake and
.%e*sla ks¾udK Graphic Design
Veterinary Surgeon Dr.
wfrdaYsks fmf¾rd Aroshini Perera Noel Nadesan deserve our
fj,sxgka fud,a,sf.dv Wellington Molligoda congratulations for a job
well done.
mß.Kl wl=re ieliqu Type Setting
fj,sxgka fud,a,sf.dv Wellington Molligoda Special mention must be
PdhdrEm iy udOH Photography & Media made of the performers
iïnkaëldrl Co ordinator of Bharata Natyam and
fhdydka chisxy Johann Jayasinha
Kandyan Dance, and in
particular that of Gandhi
www.pahana.com.au MacIntyre from Sydney who
kept the crowd entertained
Pahana Light & Life by his trilingual comedy.
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Friendship Dinner in Melbourne -

fia;ka uqo,d,sf.a fm;aiu A Call to Harmony
fn!oaOhka w;r u<jqka ms§ula ke;'
u<jqkag wdydr mdkfhka ix.%y lsÍulao
ke;' tfia kï" ñh .sh {d;Skaf.a
y;a fodfya odkhg l,ska od rd;s%fha
f.j;af;a lvq,a, fyj;a f.aÜgqj
wi,ska ;nk n;a msÕdk flfia mqreÿ
jqfKao @ iuyr úg wfma n,s f;dú,a
jdf.au ñys÷ ysñhka isß,lg jevu
lrkag l,ska mgkau mej; wd isß;l
kIagdjfYaIhla úh yelsh'
iuyr .ïj, fï n;a m; wßg;a
jvd kïnqldr úÈhg fokq ,nkakls'
ta i|ydu wgjk ,o u,a me,l" ri
uijqf,ka hq;a lEu fõ,la ;e;a lrkq
,efí' fï fudkjd l<;a f.aÜgqfjka
we;=`M fkdù" th N=la;s ú| bj;aj hd
hq;= úh'
fldákau" fuh fmf¾; ;gqjls' u< .sh
{d;shd fkd±kqj;aju fm%a; ;;ajhg
zzWiia lrkqZZ ,en we;' fia;ka
uqo,d,sf.a y;a fodfya odkhg l,ska od
nK wikakg wd msßi nK weiSfuka miq"
imamdhï ù msg;aj hk fõ,djh'
fÊñia ldrhd msg;a jQfha ;j;a ;=kay;r
fokl= iu.h' .fï ljqre;a Tyq iu.
.uka ìuka hdug leue;af;ah' md`M
ke;' ri l;d fkdfyd;a úys`Mjg Wmka
iuf;l= jQ fÊñia ldrhd" Tjqka iskd
.iajkafka weÕg;a fkd±kSh' ;udf.a
f.dú;eka jev lrf.k" lsisjl=g
ysßyer fkdlr Ôj;a jk fÊñia
zzTfya,g ±kgu;a wu;l fj,d'
wysxilhl= hhso lsj yel' Tyq wysxil
fia;ka uqo,d,s Ôj;aj bkak ;dla lf<a"
fkdjkafka úys`Mjg .sh ;ekh'
.fï ldg ldg yß úreoaOj fm;aiï
f.aÜgqfjka msg jQ fÊñia miq nisk ,shk tlfka' ±ka b;ska" bvï lvï
mdgla ÿgq i.fhda yeÍ n,kakg jQy' n,d lshd.kag yels yskaod ta jefâg uq`M
fÊñia ldrhd wr u,ame, <Õu wek ld,hu fhdokak neßhe' ug ;sfhk
;shdf.kh' nv;=frka lsisjla .;a Tyq tlu ielh kï" Th fmd; lS ojilska The Honorary Consul for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Victoria
ìu ;nd ;snqKq fnda;,h w;g .;af;ah' bjr lr .kshso lshk tl'ZZ Mr Bandu Dissanayake, in association with a prominent member of the Tamil
wfk;a whg tlajk .uka Tyq ;uka community in Melbourne and Co-ordinator for Diaspora Dialogue Dr. Noel Nadesan,
zznK wykak weú,a,;a fÊñiag kslï took the initiative to organise what they were pleased to call a Friendship Dinner in
l< ymkalu úia;r lf<ah' w;g
bkak neß yeá'ZZ Melbourne on Saturday the 13th November 2010.
.;a wrlal= fnda;,h fmkajñka lSfõ
fumuKhs# tfia lSfõ msßfia isá jhiu ukqiaihdh' The event was well co-ordinated and presented by Sirimavo Ediriweera.
fÊñiag W;a;rhla ke;'
zzuu fïl .;af;a uqo,d,sg jqjukd Welcoming the guests, Bandu and Noel explained the objective of the Dinner as a
lrk foa t;k ;sh,hsZZ zzwfka udfï" WUg ;ju f;arefKa collaborative effort by them to bring together the ex-patriate Sri Lankans living in
keoao @ ux lf<a Th wrlal= §u jf.a Melbourne and in particular, the members of the Sinhalese and Tamil communities, as
zzfudllao t;k ;sífí @ZZ
úldrhla fkfuhs' mqoa.,hdg wjYH one people at one place and decidedly with one hope: to foster and promote mutual
zzfldms fmd;l=hs mekai,hl=hsZZ NdKavh imhk tl' Bg jvd fyd| respect, understanding and goodwill as part of the reconciliation and healing process
zzta ulalghe @ZZ odkhla ;sfhkjdo @ uu fï nK following the restoration of peace in our Motherland.
wy, hk .uka okla mskla lr.kakhs
zzwehs ukqiaifhda fia;ka uqo,d,s ne¨fõ'ZZ It was also an occasion to explore the possibilities of joining the Government in its
fmf¾;fhla fj,d weú;a fï fnda;f,au efforts to build a new Sri Lanka where all communities, irrespective of their ethnic,
ysia lf<d;a" lsis flfkl=g jeis,a,la fia;ka uqo,d,s" .fï hula lula ;snqKq" linguistic and religious diversity, can live happily together in peace and freedom and
keye' uu Wkakeyeg wjYHu foa ta ;rul i,a,sldrfhls' wmrdOldrhl= cohesive harmony.
fjkqjg mQcd l<d'ZZ fkdjqj;a" Tyqg tl mqreoaola ;snqfKah'
ta" Tyq úfkdaodx.hla yeáhg l< Among the highlights of the evening was a cultural presentation featuring traditional
i.hka úiaufhka n,d isák ksid" fÊñia fm;aiï ,sùuh' fÊñia w,a,d .;af;a ta Kandyan, Low-country and Sabaragamuwa dances presented by the students of
ldrhdg th ;j;a meyeÈ,s lrkakg ÿn,luhs' Dinesh Epasinghe Abhina Dance Academy and Bharatha Natyam dance performed by
isÿúh' Dinusha Pandithan of Nadanalaya Academy of Dance.
The Celebrity Comedian Gandhi MacIntyre from Sydney kept the guests entertained
mqÉpdkï úisks with the twists and turns of his hilarious Comedy Act.

Beatie MP, Parliamentary Secretary on Multicultural Affairs assisting the Premier and
Convenor of Sri Lanka Friendship Group of Victorian Parliament, Councillor John
For all your Advertising needs Sitec, representing the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Mr Padma Kumar
mihirie@pahana.com.au Ediriweera. Humanitarian activist and prominent writer of the Tamil community
Mr.Murugapoopathy spoke in Sinhala.
mihiried@hotmail.com Proceeds of the Dinner will be directed to Eluvaitivu Hospital Project in the North of
Sri Lanka and the Cancer Hospital Children’s Ward Project in Maharagama.
Mihirie Dissanayake All in all, it was a beautiful evening imbued with a feeling of fraternity and camaraderie,
renewing the old friendships long lost, and forging the new.

0414 546 833 Padma Kumar Ediriweera

4 DECEMBER 2010 PAHANA - LIGHT & LIFE
 www.pahana.com.au

mgqk CONTENTS

mrK l;kAor mqÉpdkï úiska 4

Enlightening... Leo Roo 6

Such Is Life Shyamon Jayasinghe 8

ffcj úúO;ajh wdpd¾h úoHdks uk;=x. 9

iujeÿu isisr Èidkdhl 10

wfma mkai,a 12 The Editorial Board of Pahana

mqrkSf; ã’'î’' l=remamq 14 proudly bring to the notice of our readers
the appointment of one of our members,
Yodha Ela... Palitha Manchanayake 16
Mihirie Dissanayake,
;S¾:h 18 as a Honorary Justice of the Peace
My Heavenly Experience Chamara Illeperuma 20 by the Governor in Council,
Professor David De Kretser,
The Atlas Myth... Sirimavo Ediriweera 22
on the recommendation from
fmfoys ri ''' úÿIl 24 the Attorney General in
fld¨ ldf,a risl iQßhwdrÉÑ 26 the state of Victoria,
Chinese Prosperity... Mathu Liyanage 26
Australia.
jks;d ,;d fyauud,d fyar;a 28

wkka;h lrd''' fyauud,d fyar;a 30

Amazing Healing Power... Gamini Dissanayake 34

Get your Pahana
we;a;u we;a; l;djlA fj,sxgka fud,a,sf.dv 40 delivered to your
A Buddhist Reply Hemal Jayawickrama 40 home!
uka;S% ;=ud iuka uydkdu osidkdhl 41

Lost in You Dr Noel Nadeson 44 Call Mihiri

46
Exploring Parks...

Deepam
Daya de Silva

48
0414 546 833
mihirie@pahana.com.au
ÿlla ke;sj iqukd f;akqjr 52

Is Nuclear Power... Senake Perera 53

whs¡ tï¡ wd¾¡ ta¡ Bßhf.d,a, tiA' Bßhf.d,a, 54 NOTICE!

Who is a Buddhist? P.B.Somasiri 55 To all contributors and
Tales from... Prof. N. Mudiyanse 56
advertisers
Please forward all material
57
for the January 2011 issue as
Channel Lanka TV Guide 58
soon as possible.
y;r yskd fj,sxgka fud,a,sf.dv 60 Our closing date for the
<ud msgqj hqIdrd úfÊr;ak 62 January 2011 issue will be,
20.12.2010 due to Christmas
and New Year holidays.

DECEMBER 2010 PAHANA - LIGHT & LIFE 5